Signal-controlling mechanism for automobiles



w. A. ECKERT SIGNAL CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR AUTOKOBILES H194 Auk 22. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 9, 1927.

W. A. ECKERT SIGNAL CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES Fil ed Aug. 22, 1923 2 Shets-Sheat 2 Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. ECKEBT, BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SIGNAL-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application m August :2, 1923. Serial Io. 068,818.

This invention relates to a signal mechanism for automobiles which will enable the driver to give a signal indicating the direction in which he is about to turn and whlch when once set and a partial turn of the vehicle in the corresponding direction has been efl'ected cannot be unset or-ret-urned to its neutral position until after the vehlcle has completed the turn. after which the slgnal may be automatically restored to its neutral osition during the operation of stra1ghten mgout the course of the vehicle.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved mechanism for accomplishing this purpose and which can be easily applied to the standard types of automobiles now in general use and capable of being produced at low cost.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 29 is a fragmentary side elevation of the steering post, wheel and column of an automobile steering mechanism equipped with my improved direction signaling mechanism. Figure 2 is a front elevation, partly in section,

of the same. Figure 3 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 2 with the front part of the casing or the cover removed and a part of the carrier shown in section. Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line H, Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow associated with this line. Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 55, Figure 4 and showing one of the switches in its open position. Fi ire 6 is a similar view showing the switc li in its closed position. Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on line 7-7, Figure 5. Figure 8 is a. longitudinal section taken on line 88, Figure 3 looking in the direction of the ar- 410 row associated with this line and showing the parts in their neutral position. Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the parts in the position they occupy when the signal has been set for turning toward the right and the steering po:t has been turned part way in this direction. Figure 10 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the signal has been set for turn ing to the right and the steering post has completed its rotation in that direction.

Figure 11 is a similar view showing the manner in which the signal which has been set for turning to the right is automatically unset or restored to neutral upon turning the steering post backwardly after the same has been turned to the ri ht. Fi res 12 and 13 are cross sections ta en on t e correspondingly numbered lines in Figure 3 and showing the position of the parts when both the right an left hand switches and the steering post are in neutral position. Figure 14 is a sectional view similar to Figure 12 showing thee right hand switch shifted into its closed position and the steerin 0st turned part way'toward the right an t e controlling means in operation for holding the right hand switch in its closed position. Figure 15 is a cross section taken on line 15-15, Figure 3. Figure 16 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the housing or casing, partly in section, viewing the same from the rear and also showing the electric circuits in diagrammatic form. Figure 17 is a flag mentary cross section of the contact arm on one of the switches, which carries the movable or bridge contact forming part of the respective switch- Fi re 18 1s a sectional view of the right han electric switch showing the same in its closed position. Figure 19 isa detached sectional view of the left hand electric switch, on an enlarged scale. Similar characters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

- Although this signal mechanism may be varied in its details of construction and mounted on various forms of steering mechanisms for automobiles and the like, the same. for example, is shown in the drawings associated with a steering mechanism having a rotary steering post or, shaft 20, which is provided at its upper end with a hand wheel or steering wheel 21 for turning the same. and a stationary column or standard 22 which surrounds this post and in which the. latter is journaled in any well-known or approved manner. I

Surrounding the upper end of the column and the lower part 23 of the hub of thesteering wheel is a carrier which is enerally of cylindrical form and secured to the hub of the steering wheel, so as to be compelled to turn therewith by any suitable means, for instance, by a set screw 24, as shown in Figure 4:. For convenience in applying the signaling device to the steering wheel, as well as removin the same therefrom, this carrier is divide and lengthwise into two equal parts 25, 26, which parts are connected with each other by means of screws 27 which pass through} i d diametrically shown in Figure 15.

' jacent Surrounding this carrier is an enclosing cylindrical casing 28, the lower portion 29 of which forms an enlarged base which embraces the stationary column below the sections 25, 26 of the carrier. This casing is likewise constructed in two sections which are divided diametrically and are secured to each other and also clamped on the steer-- ing column by means of screws 30 through the correspondin ends of t of the casing sect-ions. left hand sides, the casing is provi ed with lateral, hollow extensions 31, 32 in which are mounted electrical switches, which are adapted to be opened and closed for the purpose of giving a signal to persons adjacent to the respective automobile as to the'direction the driver intends to'take. In the present instance, the car is assumed to have electric lamps 33 and 34 at the front and rear ends of its right side and similar lamps 35, 36 at the front and rear ends of its left hand side, one or the other of these pairs of lamps being adapted to be lighted for giving the desired signal. In the present case, each of these pairs of lamps is arranged in series,

e base one end of which is connected with one pole of the battery 37. The other pole of this batte is connected with two contacts 38, one o which is arranged in the upper part of each casing extension and stands opposite a companion contact 39 arranged in the adart of the respective casing extension. gne of the contacts 39 is connected with the o posite side .of the right hand lights and t e other contact 39 is connected with the other side of the left hand lamps, so that upon electrically connecting one or the other pair of contacts 38 and 39, the electric circuit will be closed through one or the other of these pairs of lamps and cause the same to be lighted by the current of the batter{. v

Eac pair of contacts 38, 39 is adapted to be connected and disconnected by means of a bridge contact 40 of metal which is movable into and out of engagement with the opposing sides of the same. Each of these movable contacts 40 may be operated in any suitable manner, but preferably by means of an elbow lever arranged in one of the housing extensions 31 or 32 and pivotally mounted thereon by means of a pin 41 and having an upper arm 42 which carries the contacts 40 but is insulated therefrom and a lower arm 43 projecting forwardly from said pivot. This elbow lever is rocked for the purpose of engaging its cont-act or bridge piece 40 with the respective pair of contacts 38, 39 by means of a hand lever pivoted upon one of the extensions 31 or 32, by means of a horizontal pin 44 and having an inner arm 45 arranged within the respective gassing 11 its ri ht an df casing extension and an outer' arm or finger piece 46 projecting through a slot on the front side of this casing extension, so that the same is accessible to the. driver of the automobile. The connection between the inner arm of the hand lever and the lower arm of the elbow lever is preferably effected by means of a pin 47 arranged on the inner arm of the hand lever and working in a longitudinal slot 48 inthe lower arm of the elbow lever.

It follows from this construction that 'when the handle 46 of the hand lever is depressed, the elbow lever will he rocked in the direction for engaging its bridge contact 40 with the opposing sides of the companion pair of contacts 38, and 39 thereby closing the electric circuit. of one pair of lamps while upon raising the finger piece or handle 46, these parts will be moved in the opposite direction and the respective electric circuit and the lamps thereln will be extinguished.

By this means, it is possible to li ht the signal lamps on either the right or t e left hand sides of the car and thus give notice to pedestrians and drivers of other cars the direction in which the driver of the particular car intends to turn from the course he is then pursuing.

In order to yieldingly hold each of these electric switches in its 0 ened or closed position, a. spring 49 is app md to the lower arm 43 of each of the elbow leyers and arranged to bear at its front end against the inner arm 45 of the hand lever and at its rear end against its upper arm of the elbow lever, as best shown in Figure 19. When the elbow lever and hand lever of each switch are turned to either extremities of their movements, the spring 49 operates to yieldingly hold these parts in this osition, but when either one of the hand evers is turned in one direction or. the other, the spring 49 is first compressed between the arms 42 and 45 until the dead center between the axes of the hand and elbow levers has been passed after which the expansion of this spring operates to complete the movement of these levers in the direction in which they have been started by hand.

Means are provided whereby one or the other of the electric signal switches, after the same have been once moved into an operative or closed position, and the steering wheel has effected the initial part of its turning movement in the respective direc-' tion will prevent the driver or any one else from opening this circuit until after the automobile has completed the turn in the direction for which the signal has been set, said controlling means being so organized that when the vehicle is about to complete its turning movement in response to the operation of the steering mechanism, the

' and thus avoid the necessity of the attendlit ant paying any attention to unsetting the signal after the same has been 'once set to indicate a particular direction of intended movement.

The preferred form of these controlling means whereby this is accomplished is shown in the drawings and constructed as follows:

On the lower part of the cylindrical collar which turns with the steering wheel is arranged an upper circumferential locking channel and a lower circumferential holdout channel 51 which together form a pair for cooperation with means which control the right hand signal switch, and onthe upper part of this carrier or sleeve, the same is provided with an upper clrcumferential locking channel 52 and a lower circumferential holdout channel 53 which together form a pair for cooperation with the electric switch which controls the left hand switch. The wall 54 between the lower pair of channels is provided with a vertical passage 55 and the wall 56 between the upper pair of channels 52, 53 is provided wlth a vertical passage 57, these passages 55 and 57 being arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the column, and preferably on the right and left sides thereof. Immediately above the right hand passage 55, a dog, latch or pawl 58 is pivoted on the adjacent part of the carrier bymeans of a horizontal pin 59, which latch is capable of swinging from a pendant position in which it extends across the lower locking channel 50, as shown in full lines in Figure 8, forwardly and upwardly into a position in which the same clears this channel, as shown by full lines in Figure 9, said latch being prevented from moving backwardly by engagement of its rear flat side with a stop surface 60 on the adjacent part of the carrier, and the front side of this latch being provided with a cam surface 61.

A similar latch 62 is arranged immediately above the passage 57 in the wall 56 between the upper locking and holdout channels and is pivoted at its upper end by means of a horizontal pin 63 to the adjacent part of the carrier and is free to swing forwardly and upwardly from a pendant posi tion across the upper locking channel 52 into a position in which the same clears this channel, this latch being prevented from swinging rearwardly from a pendant position by engagement of its fiat rear side with a stop shoulder 64 on the adjacent art of the carrier and the front side of thls latch being provided with a cam surface 65.

The inner arm of the hand lever of the right hand electric switch is provided with a shifting pin or tappet 66 which projects inwardly through a slot 67 in the casing and is adapted to move with its inner extremity through the passage 55 so as to be in line with either of the circumferential channels 50 or 51. Similarly the inner arm of the hand lever of the left hand switch is provided with a controlling pin or tappet 68 which projects througha slot 69 in the casing and is adapted to have its inner extremity pass through the passage or gap 57 irto line with the upper or lower channels 5 53. I

In the neutral position of the signaling mechanism, the outer arms or finger pieces 46 of both switch operating hand levers are turned into their elevated position, so that the bridge contacts 40 of both elbow levers are disengaged from the two pairs of stationary contacts 38, 39, whereby both the right and left hand lamps of the automobile are extinguished, this being the position of the parts when the driver of the automobile intends to continue running his machine straight ahead on the roadway. If the driver contemplates turning either to the right or to the left, he depresses the outer arm 46 of the respective electric switch hand lever, whereby the corresponding elbow lever is turned for engaging its bridge contact 40 with the companion fixed contacts 38 and 39 and thus lighting'the signal lamps on that side of the car. After the respective hand lever is turned for thus closing the electric circuit on that side of the car, the corresponding controllin pin or tappet, for example 66 is raised rom the position shown by full lines in Figure 8, which registers with the lower holdout channel 51, to the position shown by dotted lines in the same figure, which causes this controlling pin or tappet to pass through the passage 55 and stand in the controlling channel 50 and behind the latch 58. Upon now turning the steering post in the direction for steering the car to the right, the first effect will be to cause the latch 58 to engage with the elevated shifting pin 66 and to be lifted thereby so that it clears this controlling pin, as shown by full lines in Figure 9. As the steering post continues its rotary motion and completes its movement in this direction, the latch 58 drops off from the pin 66 into a pendant position in rear of the same, as shown by full lines in Figure 10. As the latch 58 passes over the controlling pin 66, the looking groove 50 receives this pin, as shown in Figure 10, and thereby prevents the driver from turning the right hand switch lever 45, 46 in the direction for opening the right hand electric switch, thereby maintaining illumination of the right hand signal lamps while the vehicle is thus making its right hand turn. Upon reversing the rotation of the steering post for the purpose of straightening out the automobile after it has made this right hand turn, the cam surface 61 of the right hand latch 58 engages with the with the lower holdout ciannel 51, which.

0 eration is shown as partly completed in ignre 11. Upon thus moving the control-,- ling pin 66 from its upper position to its lower position in the manner indicated, the respective'right hand switch is automaticall opened and the lamps associated therewit are extinguished, thus indicating that the turn has been completed and the car is again traveling on a course straight-ahead.

When the driver depressesthe finger piece or handle 46 of the left hand sw tch, the parts of the latter are operated for closin the electric circuit of theleft hand lamps an causing the latter to be lighted in the same manner as that described with reference to the right hand switch. -During such operation with the left switch, its controlling in or tap et 68 moves from a position in me with t e holdout channel 53, throu h the passageway 57 and into the locking 0 annel 52, so that upon subsequently turningthe steering in the proper direction for causing t e car to turn to the left, this left hand controllin in 68'will be first engaged by the left han hitch or dog 62, so that the latter will be raised and caused to tri over the in 68 during the initial part of t e left han turning motion of the steering post and thereafter the in 68 will be in front of this last mentioned atch, so that upon subsequently reversing the turning movement of the steering post for again straightening out the vehicle, the cam surface of the left.

hand latch willt'operate on the pin 68 and move the latter downwardly from the upper channel 52 through thepassa e 57 and into line with the passage 53, there% left hand electric switch and automatically extinguishing the left hand signal lamps.

\Vhenever the steering post is turned in one ing side of the car from being li hted after the steering post has effected the initial art of its turning movement and thus avoi ing giving confusing signals.

In the operation of the electric for openin switches and closing the circuits which they contro each of the controlling pins or tappetsmov'esf vertically and in' a plane parallel with the axis of the steering post,

which enables the switch mechanism-to be built inclose and thus produce a compact structure which will not unduly trespass y opening the 3 upon the space around the 'steerin mechanism which might be utilized for ot er purposes to advantage.

This signal controlling mechanism is positive and reliable in its operation, it is not liable to t out of order and permits of giving an e ective signal by reason of the fact that when the signal is once set and a partial turn of the car is made in the corresponding direction, the operator is com lled to complete the turn in 'that direct on before the signal can be again restored automatically to its normal condition.

I claim as my invention:

- 1. A signaling mechanism for an automobile having its steering ear provided with a rotary steering post and a stationary column surrounding said post, comprisin a rotary carrier mounted on said post an provided on its periphery with a circumferential locking channel one wall of which is provided with a lateral assage, an electric switch mounted on sai column and havin acontrolling pin movable in a plane parallel with the axis of said post and through said passage into and out of said lockin channel, and shifting means which permit the entrance of said in into said c ing said switc and also rmit of turnin said steering st in one direction and whic 0 rate to 'e ect said pin out of said locking 0 annel for opening said switch upon turn- .ing said post in the opposite direction, said shifting means consisting of a latch pivoted on the carrier opposite said passage and adapted to swing into and out of an opera:

annel for clos-' tive position across said lockin channel, and

provided on its front side wit adapted to'enga e said in and deflect the same out of said ocking c annel and adapted to engage its rear side with a shoulder on said carrier for arresting the, backward a cam face swinging movement'of the latch when the same projects across said channel and means for moving the controlling pin into the path of movement of said latch.

2. A signaling mechanism for an automobile having its steering gear provided with a rotary steering post and a stationary o column surrounding said post, comprising a rotar carrier mounted pn said post and provide on its periphery with a circumferential 1 locking channel one .wall of" which is pro- ]vided with a lateral passage, an electric switch mounted on said column and having a controllin pin movable in a plane parallel with the axis ofsaid post and through said.

e intoand out of said locking channel,

shifting means which permit the entrance of said pin into said channel for closing said switch and also permit of turningsaid steering post in one direction and which operate, I to deflect said pin out of said locking channel for opening said switch upon turning said post in the opposite direction, said switch comprising two fixed contacts arranged on the casing, an elbow lever one arm of which is operatively connected with said controlling pin and its other arm having a bridge contact adapted to connect said fixed contacts, a hand lever pivotally mounted on said column and having an outer arm adapted to be manipulated and an inner arm connected with that arm of the elbow lever which carries said controlling pin, and a spring interposed between said hand lever and elbow lever and operating to yieldingly hold the same in either extremities of their movement.

3. A signaling mechanism for an automobile having its steering gear provided with a rotary steering post and a stationary column surrounding said post comprising a rotary carrier mounted on said post and provided with a circumferential locking channel and a circumferential holdout channel, said channels being separated by an intervening wall having a passage connecting said channels, a latch mounted on said carrier and adapted to move into and out of said lockinrr channel, a controlling pin movable through said passages into either of said channels, a movable cam mounted on said carrier and permitting said pin to remain in said locking channel upon moving the carrier in one direction and to deflect said pin from the looking channel through said passage and into said holdout channel upon moving the carrier in the opposite direction and means for moving the controlling pin into the path of movement of said latch, and an electric switch operatively associated with said controlling pin.

4. A signaling mechanism for an automobile having its steering gear provided with a rotary steering post and a stationary column surrounding said post comprising a rotary carrier mounted on said post and provided with two pairs of circumferential channels, each pair having a locking channel and a lioldout channel which are connected with each other by a passage, the passages of the two pairs of channels being arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the carrier, two electric switches each having a controlling pin adapted to move through said passage so that either channel of the respective pair can receive the companion pin upon turning the carrier relatively to said pin, and means for permitting each locking channel to receive its respective controlling pin upon turning the carrier .in one direction and deflecting said pin into line with the other channel of the pair upon turning the carrier in the opposite direction comprising a latch movablymounted on said carrier, and means for moving each controlling pin into the path of movement of the respective latch.

- WILLIAM A. ECKERT. 

